Your favorite carry on luggage?

Hi everyone! :D I'm new to non-rev travel, but I hope to be doing a good amount of it in the coming years. I thought it might be wise to invest in a dependable carry on. My fiancee and I are going to China to visit our friend this summer, and that's going to be our first trip. We're going to have to lug our bags around Hong Kong a bit too, because we're likely going to be staying in different hotels for the first couple of nights, and then at our friend's place in Guangzhou. I was thinking about something that can be easily carried around, but I'm having trouble deciding if I should get something that has backpack straps, or a wheeled duffel, or just a wheeled carry on that has a handle so it can be carried like a duffel. It seems ideal to have something I can throw on my back, but ultimately I'm still unsure of what I should get! Any advice on what your favorite carry on is? :cool:

Former baggage handler here...

If you want bulletproof and ready to withstand a nuclear weapon, a lot of pilots had bags like this. This is probably overkill, but just to give you an idea. This one claims to be lighter than most of its type, but I remember this lineup being really heavy. If you're doing a lot of traveling around the city, I wouldn't recommend it. Stop-Over store original home of luggageworks stealth bag

I've had this for a few years now. Other than a zipper that got stuck (should repair that sucker, or look into a warranty or something) it's been an awesome bag. Light, very durable wheels, nice handle, and plenty of compartments. Just keep in mind that the TravelPros you see in department stores are a little different than this, and not of as good quality. But when I threw bags, so many flight attendants (and some pilots) had this and it just felt like a really good bag that held up pretty well. When I was in Denver for training, I went to the United building across the street, looked at their company store, saw a bag for $150, and bought it. I now work at that building, and my wife is going to interview to work at that store on Thursday. Not that that matters much, I guess :D TravelPro FlightCrew4 22" Rollaboard

If you must get something in-store because you don't trust buying a bag sight-unseen, Swissgear seemed pretty solid in my experience.

And if your face is going white just looking at these prices, I also have a Nautica checked bag. For the price (can't remember what I paid, but it wasn't bad) it has held up pretty well. Its brand name is embroidered, and that's starting to get some loose threads, but other than that, reasonably solid. I'd imagine their carry-ons to also be good, maybe lacking the bells and whistles. You could probably get that at one of the discount retailers, like Ross, TJ Maxx, Michaels, etc. But if you can spring for a Travelpro, you'll be glad you did. And unlike a night hotel room, you'll use it again and again.

You'll notice that everything I mentioned is all rollerboards. Go with that. You're mostly going from airport to hotel or friend's house, leaving your stuff there, packing, back to airport, and possibly repeat, right? If you were going hiking with a bunch of camping supplies, then absolutely find a backpack or something. But in the city, a good rollerboard with a side handle is good enough. I have NEVER wished I had a duffel or backpack straps. In fact, I have a Targus backpack that I carry around on some trips. Barely small enough to count as a "personal item" with the "1 + 1" carryon rule. If I had anything like backpack straps on my main bag, it would just get in the way. They're gimmicks. Think of it this way, pilots and flight attendants travel more than almost anyone else. Have you ever seen one with a ginormous backpack? That's what I thought.

Boss and I swear by High Sierra Lite. The new version 22" (true dims) is only 6.5 lbs and holds a buttload of stuff. Decent frame/handle/wheels. All or nonrevs use the zipper backpack version like us, but I am ready to move to the new one above. I can still use small packs w/this one.
Ebags run deals (i get miles on Delta).
NNo way I'd use duffle or full backback--I prefer to use only one strap anyway. My 2 cents. BTW--the new bag mentioned is $113, w/ free ship.

Love my Tumi Vapor!!https://www.google.com/search?q=tumi...2F%3B293%3B600 Toss it, Kick it...

Another Tumi (Ducati) here, it was a gift.

So I ended up going with a 22 inch Walkabout Travelpro! I hate to admit it, but their advertising of "Most often choice of flight crews" really got me. What also got me was that I was able to put it on my Macy's charge account and worry about paying it off after my trip, haha. Tumi and Swissgear and High Sierra (I don't think they had the Lite at Macy's) looked amazing, but the Travelpro was more in my price range. Spongebue, I did see you noted that the department store brands are a little different, but hopefully it holds up for my first year of nonrev travel adventures! Btw did your wife get the job? :D

It's so funny that you all said no to backpacks, cause at first that's what I was envisioning, but after doing some research I found a lot of blogs of frequent travelers that started with a backpack, or a wheeled backpack, and said they'd never do it again! Great point about "how many flight attendants and pilots do you see with ginormous backpacks?" Haha!


Here's what I went with:

Attachment 551

She did get the job, starting on Monday!

Good for you guys! That's so cool you'll be working so close together! :D

Getting into all this nonrev travel stuff is making me want to work for an airline someday!

I hope you included those wheels. Some airline measure boxes are very strict--same w/handles that aren't fully recessed. Pretty sturdy looking bag.
PS--did you get purple, Jay?

I did get the purple! :cool:

I missed the comment regarding backpack luggage. My High Sierra w/zip pack also HAD straps on the major rollerbag. First thing I did was remover the strps from the back pocket, knowing full well that bag would never be on this woman's back! I now have a very handy flat pocket for a guide book or small watercolor or similar. I typically remove extraneous straps and such from any case--just don't want to fool with useless junk!

It depends on what you're doing at your destination. I oftentimes am taking day trips or will spend the day in the city before I go to wherever I'm staying for the night. I don't desire to drag a roller bag around town and try to look as inconspicuous as possible. I just carry a regular backpack. I've tried fancy ones but never can get as much as I can in my old backpack from junior high with no structure to it. I've just about worn it out but I can pack everything tightly and I've gotten everything in it for a 9 day trip before. I ended up taking a tote bag with a sleeping bag, pillow and other bedding to be more comfortable but everything I needed was crammed into my backpack, rolled tightly.

This also means that I'm not forced to check my bag on a full plane. Even if I have 2 pieces, they can cram under the seat in front of me if necessary. I make sure that I don't have to gate check a bag because it rains so much in CAE and ATL that it's easy for gate check bags to get soaked unless you have hard-sided.